Hydrazine combustion mixtures



Patented Sept. 24, 1957 HYDRAZINE COMBUSTION MIXTURES Cecil A. Rush andStewart S. Cruikshank, Baltimore, and Samuel Sass, Edgewood, Md., andThomas N. Zenk, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army N Drawing.Application July 21, 1955, Serial No. 523,639

5 Claims. (Cl. 167-40) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to the dissemination of pesticides, coloredsmokes, toxic agents, and other substances capable of being sublimed orvaporized and is more particularly concerned with the combustion mixtureemployed to generate the heat necessary to disseminate such vaporizablesubstances.

It is well know that toxic agents such as insecticides, and coloredsmokes can be disseminated by incorporating such substances with acombustible composition, so that when said composition is ignited itburns slowly, vaporizing and disseminating the active agent ordispersible material as finely divided particles. However, thecombustible mixtures heretofore used were also capable of inflaming orhaving its vapors ignite. In addition, the combustible mixturesheretofore employed produced relatively high temperatures and such hightemperatures severely limited the class of dispersible agents whichcould be employed therewith, since the organic toxic agents anddyestuffs normally desired to be dispersed would be decomposed at thehigh temperatures generated by the combustible mixtures.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combustiblemixture which is capable of generating sufiicient heat so that the agentdesired to be dispersed can be vaporized, and yet does not generate sohigh a degree of heat that the active agent is decomposed.

It is a further object of thisinvention to provide a combustible mixtureuseful for vaporizing and disseminating toxic agents, colored smokes andthe like by the heat generated by its combustion and which does not burnwith a flame.

Other objects will in part appear in and in part be obvious from thefollowing detailed description.

In accordance with this invention, it has been found that a mixture ofhydrazine and potassium persulfate provides a combustible mixture whichaccomplishes the objects set forth above. This mixture when ignited bymeans of a match device, fuse, hot metal wire, or other igniting device,produces local melting and combustion. The combustion then spreadsevenly through the mass liberating large amounts of gas and steam, andcausing vaporization and dispersal, as finely divided particles, of theorganic active agent which had been incorporated with the combustiblemixture.

The active agents which may be dispersed in this manner include organicdyestufis used in smoke generating compositions such as flares and thelike, toxic agents,

and insecticides. Among the organic dyestuffs capable of being dispersedin this manner are alpha-amino-anthraquinone, auramine hydrochloride,1,4-diamino-2,3 dihydro-anthraquinone, l-methyl-amino anthraquinone,1,4- di-p-toluidino-anthraquinone, auramine hydrochloride, and mixturesof one or more of these dyestuffs. Among the insecticides found usefulin this invention are DDT, benzene hexachloride or lindane, chlordane,and the organic phosphorous materials such as hexaethyl tetraphosphateand tetraethyl pyrophosphate.

One composition which has been found particularly effective and whichwill illustrate the invention comprises:

Ingredient: Parts by weight Potassium persulfate 4 Hydrazine 1 DDT l Theingredients in the proportions indicated are intimately mixed in finelydivided form. The resulting mixture may be packaged in variouscontainers, or pelletized in any desired shape. The reaction may bestarted by means of a lighted match, fuse or other ignitingdevice.

Other modifications of the invention can be made by those skilled in theart, such as the addition of odorant agents, the addition of inertmineral fillers such as fullers earth, China clay, expanded perlite andthe like for slowing the reaction rate and aiding the mixture in theaccommodation of organic compounds which are liquids, and other suchmodifications as would be employed by those skilled in the art formodifying formula properties. Such modifications do not depart from theintended scope of the invention.

We claim: 1

1. A low heat producing combustion mixture comprising 4 parts ofpotassium persulfate and 1 part of hydrazine.

2. A low heat gas producing composition comprising a major portion of alow heat combustion mixture formed from 4 parts of potassium persulfateand 1 part of hydrazine and a minor portion of a low temperaturevaporizable organic active agent.

3. A low heat gasgenerating composition for combatting insects,comprising a major portion of a low heat combustion mixture formed from4 parts of potassium persulfate and 1 part of hydrazine and a minorportion of a low temperature vaporizable insecticide.

4. A low heat gas generating composition for combatting insects,comprising a major portion of a low heat combustion mixture formed from4 parts potassium persulfate and 1 part of hydrazine and a minor portionof DDT.

5. A gas generating composition for combatting insects comprising onepart hydrazine, four parts potassium persulfate, and one part DDT, allparts by weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSJohnstone Nov. 23, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES

1. A LOW HEAT PRODUCING COMBUSTION MIXTURE COMPRISING 4 PARTS OFPOTASSIUM PERSULFATE AND 1 PART OF HYDRAZINE.